U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Craig Miezejeski, 35th Maintenance Squadron conventional maintenance crew chief, tightens the tie-down strap to the 6k lift truck prior to moving munitions at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 31, 2012. The lift is used to relocate munitions too heavy for Airmen to move manually. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Kenna Jackson/Released)
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Willie Bivins, 35th Maintenance Squadron conventional maintenance crew member, hooks wire slings to suspension lugs attached to a BDU-50 prior to moving it at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 31, 2012. The BDU-50 is a 2,000 pound training device. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Kenna Jackson/Released)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Joshua Meidell, 35th Maintenance Squadron conventional maintenance crew member, operates a fork lift at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 31, 2012. The fork lift is capable of moving more than 13,000 pounds of equipment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Kenna Jackson/Released)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Dillon Barrett, left, 35th Maintenance Squadron conventional maintenance crew member, guides the BDU-50 training munition while it is being moved along the holding table at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 31, 2012. When not in use, munitions go through a bomb teardown, or a disassembly. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Kenna Jackson/Released)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Rattan Singh, 35th Maintenance Squadron conventional maintenance crew member, loosens a screw from a fin assembly on to a BDU-50 training device at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 31, 2012. There are multiple screws that connect the fin assembly to the bomb. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Kenna Jackson/Released)
U.S. Air Force munitions crew members work to remove the fin assembly of a BDU-50 training munition at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 31, 2012. There are multiple different fin assemblies that can be attached to munitions; each has its own purpose. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Kenna Jackson/Released)
by Airman Kenna Jackson
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
5/31/2012 - MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- The 35th Maintenance Squadron's munitions personnel, otherwise known as AMMO, take extra care while disassembling a fin assembly on munitions.
"While bomb building is an AMMO Airmen' s bread and butter; it is only one of the many tasks we perform", said Airman 1st Class Joshua Meidell, 35 MXS conventional maintenance crew member.
While dissembling bomb components is just a fraction of what AMMO is all about, the job is still one where caution is a constant consideration.
"Disassembling munitions is every bit as dangerous as assembling them," said Staff. Sgt. Craig Miezejeski, 35 MXS conventional maintenance crew chief. "With multiple lives at stake, there is no room for error."
To prevent such mishaps from happening in their work environment, every Airman must strictly follow their technical orders. Prior to actually disassembling the bombs, as an extra precaution, a crew chief mindfully instructs each crew member of their specific duty.
"It's a safety precaution," said Airman 1st Class Rattan Singh, 35 MXS conventional maintenance personnel. "If everyone knows what they are doing and when to do it, there is less of a chance for something to go wrong."
